House

MINNEAPOLIS - The governor’s office issued a brief statement today shortly after U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) officially declared his intention to run again for U.S. Congress in the First Congressional District.

"The governor fully supports Congressman Andrews’s decision to run for re-election," said Corzine spokesman Robert Corrales. "Congressman Andrews has an exceptional understanding of public policy and has a long and distinguished record serving his district and the State. The governor values his leadership and looks forward to continue working with the congressman on issues that will improve the quality of life for all New Jerseyans."

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- At 62, Rodney Frelinghuysen is already three years older than his father, Peter Hood Ballantine Frelinghuysen, Jr., was when he retired from Congress in 1975.

Frelinghuysen said his father left office in 1975 – when he was in his late 50s -- to spend more time with his family.

“I think it was in large part that he had five children, and I think he wanted time with family,” he said. “I grew up for 22 years of my life with my father as a member of congress, and I’m not singling out myself, but I don’t remember my father ever coming to a game or any sporting event.”

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. -- Former 7th District Republican Congressional candidate P. Kelly Hatfield said that State Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Flemington) understands that if he wants to beat Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood), he can’t ignore Union County.

Stender, a microbiologist and former Summit Council president, said she’s seen Lance a lot in her home county, and that he’s studied how Stender managed to get so close to winning in her 2006 campaign.

“He has to win Union County. A lot of the Republican towns went for Linda Stender in 2006, and Leonard knows this. He knows he has to win Summit, Clark and Westfield,” she said.

U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights): Politicker file photo 

MINNEAPOLIS - In a conference call with reporters, U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights) said he turned down wealth for public service, abandoned a lucrative Wall Street offer for a chance to stay in South Jersey.

"I had negotiations with Goldman Sachs," Andrews said. "I was tremendously impressed with Goldman Sachs. But I realized it’s not what my heart told me I want to do."

The congressman described his decision to return - after repeatedly going on the record with a firm declaration of his retirement - as "personal and perplexing," admitting that he has "fences to mend" with the New Jersey delegation.

"I had no intention of ever going back," insisted the 18-year congressional veteran, who gave up his seat earlier this year to challenge U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-Cliffside Park). "I heard from scores of people who asked me to go back. They said very kind and humbling things."

MINNEAPOLIS - The breakfast gathering welcomes U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-Harding) to the podium as a friend of military veterans and longtime supporter of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

Frelinghuysen stands between the flags of the Untied States and New Jersey and exhorts the small crowd to support congressional candidates Medford Mayor Chris Myers in the 3rd District and state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) in the 7th.

"We need to keep Republicans in the House from New Jersey," he says. "These are tough races. Democrats in those races have raised a considerable amount of money. ...We need to work toward a Republican majority in both the House and Senate."

Applause.

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s speech last night is still bringing smiles to the faces of those in this room, and the congressman seizes on the mood.

U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews officially announced this morning that he will seek reelection to the House seat that he’s held for 18 years, just months after he took his name off the ballot to challenge U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg and said on multiple occasions that he would not seek to return to Congress.

In a statement issued while he held a press conference in Camden to announce his decision, Andrews said “It was not my intention to answer the call of my neighbors and friends who have indicated they would stand with me if I sought re-election.” But after exploring private sector opportunities and discussing it with his family, Andrews said that “after much deliberation, thought and prayer, I have decided that I will seek re-election to the House this fall.”

Andrews said that the decision of who will be the party’s nominee will be left up to the county committees that comprise the district. The county committees, however, are virtually certain to vote to put Andrews back on the ballot. The district’s huge Democratic advantage also makes Andrews a near shoe-in for reelection.

Republican State Chairman Tom Wilson said that U.S. Rob Andrews’s decision to seek reelection to Congress shows that a new Congressman is needed in the 1st District.

“Rob Andrews has spent nearly 20 years in Washington. It’s time for a change,” he said just before boarding a bus to watch Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin speak at the Republican National Convention. “It’s a sad statement that the Democrats have to rely on defeated retreads. If you can’t trust Rob Andrews when it comes to one of the most personal decisions of his life, I don’t know what you can trust him on.”

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), who butted heads with U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews when he decided to challenge Frank Lautenberg in the Senate primary, kept his statement on Andrews’s return to the ballot short and not-so-sweet.

“Mr. Pascrell has no comment at this point but was not surprised by the news,” said Pascrell spokesman Caley Gray. 

Former Rob Andrews Senate Campaign Chairman Michael Murphy said that Andrews changed his mind and “put service to our country after self.”

“Rob’s a good friend and colleague, and I hold him in high regard and have great respect for him,” he said. “It was a uniquely personal decision, and one he made with the input of his friends and family.”

Murphy said he’s been urging Andrews to reconsider his promise to leave the House seat since he lost the U.S. Senate primary against Frank Lautenberg.

MINNEAPOLIS - His name was in the mix of those South Jersey Democratic Organization stalwarts who might step up and replace a retiring U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews (D-Haddon Heights).

But amid the cry of foul by Republicans, and off-the-record hand wringing by fellow Democrats, Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Paulsboro) said Andrews’s trip to Denver to hear Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) deliver his acceptance speech may have played a role in Andrews’s decision to go back to Congress.

"You listen to the speech-making in Denver, and if you have the opportunity to be part of that, you’re in a position where you can be even more effective," said Burzichelli.